Introducing our Spring 2018 Foley Fellows

Beautiful Social is excited to announce our tenth, eleventh, and twelfth Foley Fellows: Taylor Burke, Caitlin Gillard, and Abbey Piro. Carly Montecalvo, who was a Foley Fellow in Spring 2017, will be a Fellow again in Spring 2018 after spending the Fall in Copenhagen.

Foley Fellows are named for John Cardinal Foley, who served as Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem from 2007 to 2011 and held the position of Vatican correspondent for the Philadelphia’s archdiocesan newspaper.

The Fellows are exemplary students who function in ways similar to Project Managers: they act as liaisons between the clients and the student teams and help the teams succeed in their projects. Fellows also perform in ways similar to teaching assistants in that they lead class discussions, plan and take part in Beautiful Social activities, and work with the Director to ensure the program is living up to it’s mission and values. We asked Carly, Taylor, Caitlin, and Abbey to introduce themselves. Here's what they had to say.

Taylor Burke

Hello! My name is Taylor Burke and I am a Junior at Saint Joseph’s University. I am a Communications Major with minors in Leadership, Ethics and Organization (LEO) and Art and I am from West Chester, Pennsylvania. I like to be super involved on campus as I am a sister of Alpha Omicron Pi, I serve as the fundraising chair on the Relay for Life executive board and I am a Community Partnership Coordinator (CPC) for the Weekly Service program.

As a student of Saint Joe’s I have been afforded a lot of opportunities to grow as a person. Saint Joe’s is a school that wants it’s students to be more than just students. This dedication to educational and personal growth is the main reason I decided to come to this school. That decision was the best one I could have ever made, because I have been introduced to so many things that I am now incredibly passionate about.

When I had my first meeting with my advisor freshman year I had no idea what I wanted to do with my major. She told me about Beautiful Social and it instantly became my goal. I absolutely had to be a part of it. I took the class for the first time last semester and was hooked. I am so lucky to have this opportunity to be a fellow this semester to continue my involvement with B: Social.

Beautiful Social has given me a new understanding of what it means to be with and for others. I cannot wait to see what this fellowship teaches me this semester.

Caitlin Gillard

Hello! My name is Caitlin Gillard, and I am a junior Communications major and Psychology minor from Alexandria, VA. I am stoked to be returning to the Beautiful Social Research Collaborative, this time as a Foley Fellow!

My two previous semesters in Beautiful Social were spent as a consultant for the Fostering Brighter Futures campaign, which is based in Texas and aims to paint foster care in a positive light, and show the world just how important the foster care system is. The knowledge that I gained about foster care, content creation, working with non-profits, and so much more over those two semesters is something that I am grateful for every day, and I can’t wait to help foster that knowledge in other students.

Outside of Beautiful Social, I stay involved on campus as a station manager and DJ for Radio 1851, the campus radio station, a participant in the weekly service program, and a member of the Ultimate Frisbee team.

Using social media as a means of promoting positive social change is a concept that I am incredibly passionate about, which is why the Beautiful Social program has become so important to me. I am so excited to be able to play a part in helping the program grow.

Carly Montecalvo

Hello (again) world! My name is Carly Montecalvo and I am a junior Communications Major and Advertising & Promotions minor from Berwick, Pennsylvania. At SJU I like to stay involved in the wonderful community by being a part of organizations like the American Marketing Association, Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity, and, once again, as a Foley Fellow for the Beautiful Social Research Collaborative!

I was lucky to serve as a fellow in Spring 2017, after which I studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. I am beyond excited to rejoin the B:Social team, bringing a world of knowledge back to an organization that has given me the world!

I chose to attend Saint Joseph’s University due to its commitment to serving others, and during my time on Hawk Hill the classes I have taken have continually challenged this notion. As I begin the latter of my undergraduate career I have been able to gain an understanding of what it means to truly aid a community, understand the challenges faced by people unlike myself, look at the mediums hindering change, and work to better this system in ways my skillset and passion allows.

Beautiful Social grants those involved to partake in experiences that create lasting impressions, and present work that allows the communities and people to have an outlet to have their stories told. I am thrilled to once again be able to share this opportunity with my fellow fellows and student consultants!

As a Foley Fellow I hope to continue to grow my understanding of what it means to serve others, by continually being present, asking questions, reflecting, and growing in solidarity.

Abbey Piro

Hey everyone! My name is Abbey Piro and I am a junior Communications major with a double minor in Journalism and Entertainment Marketing from a small town right outside Washington D.C.!

In my free time, I enjoy doing anything that involves me going outside and seeing the world. That includes going to shows and discovering new music, attending hockey games, playing and coaching sports, and just exploring the city with my friends.

Growing up I always loved bettering my community through service and volunteer work, so when looking at colleges, I sought out a school that would allow me to continue that and complement my academic experience at the same time. Saint Joe’s provides me with a multitude of opportunities, both in and out of the classroom, to continue my service and learn along the way. Once I heard about Beautiful Social and all the good it does I knew I had to be a part of it.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Beautiful Social twice (in the Fall 2016 and the Fall 2017) as a Student Consultant, and am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with B:Social again as a Foley Fellow! This program has given me the chance to combine my passion for digital media with my love for being an engaged member of the community; teaching me so much about myself all along the way. I am so excited to take on this new role and cannot wait to continue to be a part of all the good Beautiful Social does!